Organic Electronics
Good Contacts between Carbon Compounds and Metals
Organic electronics holds great promise for future applications in solar cells, yet establishing good electrical contact between the active organic layer and metal electrodes has proved challenging. more...
Europe to Relinquish Market Lead in Solar Photovoltaics
Shifting Market Dynamics
According to a new report entitled “Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics 2013–2017” from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA), the world added 31.1 GW of new solar PV capacity in 2012 – even during a period of economic crisis and industry consolidation. This was slightly more than the 30.4 GW added in the record-setting year of 2011. more...
Dow Corning Reports Drop in Polysilicon Sales
Continuing Challenges for Hemlock Semiconductor
Dow Corning recorded sales of $1.26 billion (down 17 % on 2012) and net income of $62.1 million (down 12 % on 2012) for the first quarter of 2013. more...
Centrotherm Group Sells GP Solar, Concludes Restructuring
Clean Slate
PV and semiconductor production equipment manufacturer centrotherm photovoltaics AG has sold its subsidiary GP Solar to surface inspection specialist ISRA VISION AG, thereby achieving its target structure for its new start shortly before the Ulm District Court is due to terminate insolvency proceedings. more...
Upgrading Silicon
Hydrogen Key to Efficiency
Solar engineers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have developed an innovative method to dramatically improve the quality of low-grade silicon, promising to significantly improve electrical efficiency and reduce the cost of solar panels. more...
Centrosolar Sells Solar Glass Business to Ducatt
Consolidation of Thin-Glass Expertise
Munich-headquartered Centrosolar Group AG has signed a share purchase agreement on the sale of 100% of its solar glass business to thin-glass specialist Ducatt NV of Lommel, Belgium. more...
New Flow Battery Design
Grid Stabilization
Researchers from the US Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that could help overcome natural fluctuations in the levels of power generated by PV installations. more...
Over 36 % Conversion Efficiency for CPV in Outdoor Tests
World Record
Designer and manufacturer of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar power systems Amonix Inc. has announced the successful conversion of more than 36 % of direct sunlight into electricity. more...
Solairedirect to Produce ReneSola Solar Modules in South Africa
Toll Manufacturing Agreement
French Solairedirect SA and Chinese solar photovoltaic manufacturer ReneSola Ltd. have signed a toll manufacturing agreement to produce 120 MW of solar modules at South African-based module manufacturing subsidiary Solairedirect Technologies (Pty) Ltd. more...
Non-destructive Testing of Solar Cells and Modules
Early Detection
Scientists at Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences have developed a method for non-destructive testing of solar cells. more...
International Battery and Energy Storage Alliance Founded
Storage Solutions
The market research company EuPD Research and the International PV Equipment Association (IPVEA) have co-founded the first international alliance for providers of battery and electrical energy storage solutions in the photovoltaic branch. more...
Anti-subsidy Investigation on Solar Glass from China Launched
European Union Responds
The European Commission has initiated an anti-subsidy investigation into imports of solar glass from China. more...
Germany Becomes Company’s Largest Market
Increased Losses at China Sunergy
Nanjing-headquartered specialized solar cell and module manufacturer China Sunergy Co., Ltd. has announced a net loss of $70.5m for the fourth quarter of 2012, as against $49.6m for the same period of 2011. more...
Yingli Tops PV Module Supplier Rankings in 2012
New Market Leader
According to the latest analysis from information and analytics provider IHS, the Chinese company Yingli became the largest global supplier of PV modules in 2012 based on annual merchant shipments of 2.3 GW, while debt-burdened compatriot Suntech Power dropped to fifth place at 1.5 GW. more...
Global Solar PV Downturn in Q1 2013
Chinese PV Market Volatility
Seasonality and policy incentive deadlines from the end-market in China drove global solar PV demand down to 6.2 GW in Q1 2013, down 23% quarter on quarter. more...
Multicrystalline n-Type Silicon
Affordable High-efficiency Solar Cells
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB) are conducting research into cost-effective n-type silicon production in a joint project bearing the name HENSi. more...
Spectrolab Reports 37.8 % Solar Cell Efficiency
Ever Higher Conversion Efficiencies
Spectrolab, a subsidiary of aerospace, defence, and security giant Boeing, has set a solar cell efficiency world record of 37.8 %. more...
SolarWorld AG Announces Loss of Half of Nominal Share Capital
Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting
The Management Board of Bonn-headquartered SolarWorld AG is to convene an extraordinary meeting of shareholders at a time to be announced instead of the Annual General Meeting because a loss amounting to one half of the nominal share capital has occurred. more...
Global Solar Photovoltaic Industry Becomes Net Energy Producer
Payback Time
Although the rapid growth of the solar power industry over the past decade may have exacerbated the global warming situation it was meant to soothe, because most of the energy used to manufacture the millions of solar panels came from burning fossil fuels, Stanford University researchers have calculated that the industry is now producing, or is about to produce, a net energy benefit for society. more...
High-efficiency, Low-cost Crystalline Silicon Cells Complement CdTe Thin-film Technology
First Solar Adds Second String
First Solar, Inc. is acquiring TetraSun, a solar PV technology startup which has developed a crystalline silicon cell architecture capable of conversion efficiencies exceeding 21 % with commercial-scale manufacturing costs comparable to conventional multicrystalline silicon solar cells. more...
Joint EPR Laboratory Inaugurated
Defect Detection in Thin-layer Solar Cells
The Helmholtz Center Berlin and the Free University of Berlin have opened a new laboratory for materials research by means of Electron Paramagentic Resonance (EPR) in the Adlershof district of Berlin. more...